A treasure trove of history waits to be unveiled this weekend in downtown Jim Thorpe as the Dimmick Memorial Library hosts a “Historic Homes Tour” fundraiser. Taking place from noon-5 p.m. Sunday, the event offers a unique opportunity to step inside nine private homes, each with its own story to tell, all while supporting the library, Dimmick director Kara Edmonds said.

“Jim Thorpe is renowned for its rich Victorian-era architecture and its historical significance,” Edmonds said. “The fundraising committee at the library thought that this would be a good event because of the historic nature of our building and how it fits with the historic Victorian-era nature of so many buildings here in Jim Thorpe.”

Tickets cost $30 and can be purchased on the Dimmick Library website at https://www.dimmicklibrary.org/. Around 150 tickets remain.

The selection of homes for the tour was meticulously curated, focusing on historical accuracy, home condition, and the willingness of homeowners to open their doors to the public.

Some of the homes, such as the Dimmick House and the Dolan House, are operating as short-term rentals, while others have undergone extensive renovations.

“It might be the first time that people outside of the owners, friends and family circle would ever have been able to see the renovations, the upkeep and the new decoration style in some of these homes,” Edmonds said. “It offers a glimpse into modern life while preserving the charm of the past.”

A lot of the Victorian houses still have facets and features from that era, Edmonds added.

“It’s pretty fascinating to see how a modern family would take some of those features that might no longer make sense in a modern home and work them into a contemporary home,” she said.

The tour will include visits to the following historic homes:

• Nicholas Remmel Home, 83 West Broadway

• Charles Miner Home, 42 West Broadway

• David Pearsall Home, 40 West Broadway

• Big White House Set Back, 28 West Broadway

• Craig Mansion, 24 West Broadway

• Dolon House, 5 West Broadway

• Dimmick House, 110 Broadway

• Butler Homestead, 87 Broadway

• Brodhead Mansion, 80 Broadway

In addition, the tour will also feature stops at the Dimmick Memorial Library, 54 Broadway, and the Mauch Chunk Opera House, 14 West Broadway.

The Dimmick Library itself is a testament to the town’s rich history. Opened in 1889, the library survived a catastrophic fire in 1979, leaving only the front office portion intact.

“It was rebuilt on the same floor plan with the same footprint and woodwork, except for the addition of an expanded children’s area in the back,” Edmonds said. “The look of the library both inside and outside are a reminder of the beautiful building that was around during those times and people will be able to see that on the tour.”

While the funds raised from the event could be put to use in multiple ways by the library, there is one upgrade where some of the money will almost certainly be directed.

“Our air conditioner recently broke at the library, and I’m sure some of the money from this fundraiser will go toward that,” Edmonds said.